RCB vs GT Highlights: Rajat Patidar’s Record Knock Fires Defending Champs Into IPL 2026 Final

Royal Challengers Bengaluru turned Qualifier 1 into a statement of intent. On May 26 at Dharamshala’s HPCA Stadium, RCB crushed Gujarat Titans by 92 runs to reach back-to-back IPL finals. The RCB vs GT highlights will be replayed for years. Captain Rajat Patidar produced one of the greatest playoff knocks in IPL history with an unbeaten 93 off just 33 balls.

RCB posted 254 for 5 — the highest total ever in an IPL playoff game. Gujarat Titans never recovered and folded for 162 in 19.3 overs. The result sets up a mouth-watering IPL 2026 final on May 31 between the same two teams, with GT now hunting revenge.

The Innings That Broke Records

GT won the toss and chose to bowl. Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal gave RCB a flying start in the powerplay. Kohli then fell for 43 off 25 balls after a typically elegant knock full of crisp drives and a towering six.

That brought Patidar to the crease. What followed was pure destruction. The RCB skipper took apart every GT bowler with clean ball-striking and fearless intent. He finished with five fours and nine sixes at a strike rate of 281.81. Krunal Pandya added 43 off 28 to keep the momentum going. Jitesh Sharma finished with a quick 15 not out.

The numbers tell the story. RCB scored 94 runs in the last five overs alone. The stadium lights lit up every time the ball sailed into the stands. Fans who had made the trip to the hills witnessed history in real time.

Match Scorecard Snapshot

RCB won by 92 runs. Player of the Match: Rajat Patidar.

Bowling That Sealed the Deal

GT needed something special in the chase. They got nothing close. Jacob Duffy led the attack with 3 for 39, swinging the ball late and asking constant questions. Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up two crucial wickets to break partnerships before they formed.

Sai Sudharsan’s bizarre hit-wicket dismissal on 14 added to GT’s woes. Jos Buttler tried to counter-attack with 29 off 11, but the required rate kept climbing. Rahul Tewatia fought bravely for 68, yet the target proved impossible. Krunal Pandya took the final wicket as GT were bowled out with three balls to spare.

Key Moments That Defined the Night

• Powerplay explosion: Kohli and Padikkal raced to 50 in just 4.2 overs, setting the tone for what was coming.
• Patidar’s six-hitting spree: Between overs 10 and 18, the RCB captain hit seven sixes. GT’s death bowling simply had no answers.
• Duffy’s swing masterclass: The New Zealand pacer removed key middle-order batters and kept the pressure relentless.
• The final flourish: RCB crossed 250 with three balls remaining. The entire dugout erupted. The defending champions had arrived.

Why This Performance Matters

RCB showed complete cricket. Explosive batting. Disciplined bowling. Sharp fielding. Patidar’s leadership stood out — calm on the outside, ruthless when it counted. The 92-run margin is the largest in an IPL playoff since 2016.

GT, despite a strong season, looked flat under pressure. Their bowlers leaked boundaries at critical stages and the batting order never found rhythm after early setbacks. The loss drops them into Qualifier 2, but they now get another shot at RCB in the final.

Looking Ahead: RCB vs GT Final on May 31

The stage is set. RCB will defend their 2025 title against the same opposition that fell so heavily in Dharamshala. Expect fireworks. Expect tension. Expect the kind of cricket that makes the IPL the biggest T20 league on the planet.

Patidar and Kohli will walk out knowing they have already delivered one of the performances of the season. GT will come back stronger, smarter, and hungrier for revenge. Sunday night at the Narendra Modi Stadium cannot come soon enough.